Professional Documents
Culture Documents
RUSSIA
Pre-Civil War
Bolshevik’s Strengths Weaknesses of Provisional Government
Refusal to Compromise Problems of Democratic Reform
Mensheviks helped the Provisional Govt. Prisoners freed & Revolutionaries returned- includes
Bolsheviks never wavered Lenin who would eventually overthrow the govt.
o Disassociated from policies Freedom of Press- easier for Bolsheviks to spread
o Repressed by “enemy” (Provisional Govt.) information
Freedom of Assembly- People going on strikes often
Leadership of Lenin Image Tarnished
Returned to lead Bolsheviks- revolution, No Serious Reforms
unpopularity of Provisional Govt. o Delayed democratic elections due to WWI
Promises (37% of people were deployed, not very good
o Land, Peace, Bread for democracy)- people viewed this as an
o Immediate Land Redistribution attempt to hold onto power longer
o End WWI o No Land Reforms- no redistribution of land
o Eliminate Hunger w/ Communism People in Provisional Govt. were the
ones with land previously
o Appalling economic record- food shortages,
unemployment, debt
o Still in WWI
Resources are continuously drained,
promises to allies- owe money, will
have to sign surrender treaty
(money+land)
General Kornilov Affair General Kornilov Affair (Commander-in-chief)
Bolshevik’s help enlisted Thought that there were revolutionaries in St.
o Railway Workers- Stop trains, military Petersburg
cannot come in He tried to enter the city with the army to stop them
o Propagandists- spread propaganda that Provisional Govt. though that they were starting a
Kornilov is the enemy of the revolution military coup
No Blood, No Violence Arrest of Generals- military no longer under Govt.
Outcomes:
o Increased Support
o Rearmament
o Release of Prisoners
o Bolsheviks can now take down the
Provisional Govt. which is easier to take
down than the military
External Conditions/Threats/Influence
Power Politics
Literacy level of the people
o The commoners
Low literacy level- these included things such as pornography which depicted
the monarchy as a low being
These may have led to even more hatred towards the monarchy
France’s involvement in Wars
o 7 Year War (against Britain)
Despite fighting for such a long time, France still lost
Alternative Ideology
Age of Enlightenment
o Humanism- Rise of individuals
o Natural Laws
Philosophes- published the ideas
Subjects: Nature, Science, Politics, Psychology, Philosophy, Social Sciences
Secular
o Mass publication
Elites
Commoners
o Idea that natural laws can be applied to human society
No longer ruled by divine laws
Scholastic Philosophy
o Use of Reason
Reason with criticism to effect change
Challenge to Church and absolute Monarchy
People
Personality of King Louis XVI
o Compared to King Louis XIV who was an intelligent king, King Louis XVI failed greatly
o Character- little charisma, audacity
o Ability- intellect & leadership lacking
o Enjoyed a luxurious life
Great amount of food & wine when people are starving
o Tried reforms with no success (1787)
Tried to make the first 2 estates pay taxes failed, led to a moderate size
revolution by the nobles
Personality of the Revolutionaries
o Character- Charismatic, boldness
Crisis
Intensify unhappiness in a problematic society
War/Financial problems
Political problems Decisions not working
Necessity problems
o Bad harvest
There was very little bread available in the market Bread prices go up
Despite this, the clergy and King Louis XVI with his family lived in luxury
Triggers
Tennis Court Oath
o Consolidate the revolutionaries (20 June 1789)
o Bring about the leadership- tied the deputies together in a common cause
o These people refused to move when they were told to meet in their separate estates
o Swearing to carry on meeting until the government problem is solved
Storming of the Bastille (14 July 1789)
o The breakdown of prison
o The followers came
o More and more people joined the revolution
Calling of the Estates General - 1789(by King)
o Calling of representatives from the different estates
o Last done in 1614, 175 years later, it is again called by Louis XVI
o People bring about complains Not fulfilled Fuel the revolution
Essay Questions
Mao’s personal interest was the main factor behind the Cultural Revolution. How far do you
agree?
“Whatever Mao has done, he has done if for China.” How far do you agree with the statement?
“China was better and became better without Mao.” How far do you agree with the statement?
“Revolutions destroyed China more than building it.” How far do you agree with the statement?
GERMANY Questions
How far do you agree that unfavourable external events were the most important factor that
led to Hitler’s rise to power before 1933? Explain your answer.
As the Fuhrer, Hitler used several methods to consolidate his power in Germany after 1934.
Which do you think was the most effective approach? Explain your answer